Paper Title:

Experimental Study on the Breakdown of Gaps in Fire

Periodical Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 354 - 355)
Main Theme Progress in Power and Electrical Engineering
Edited by Hao Zhang, Yang Fu and Zhong Tang
Pages 1201-1204
DOI 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.354-355.1201
Citation Xiao Bin Zhu et al., 2011, Advanced Materials Research, 354-355, 1201
Online since October, 2011
Authors Xiao Bin Zhu, Tang Qin Wu, Lin He Zhang, Hai Xiang Chen
Keywords Air Gap, Breakdown, DC Voltage, Fire
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Abstract

Some flashover incidents of high-voltage transmission lines are reported to be induced by fire. Though the mechanism of fire induced flashover is not well understood, it is deemed that fire could reduce the insulation strength of air. This paper has compared the breakdown characteristics of gaps in normal air conditions and those in fire. The results show that the breakdown voltage or electric field strength of gaps in fire decreases greatly. The value of breakdown electric field strength in alcohol flame is about 1.454 KV/cm, which is only about 28.8% of that in air. The value of breakdown electric field strength in wood crib fire is about 0.300KV/cm, corresponding to 19.9% of that in air. This study demonstrates that flame and soot particle of fire are responsible for fire induce flashover of high-voltage transmission lines.